Container and hinge brace therefor



Dec. 30, 1941. c. E. CARROLL CONTAINER AND HINGE BRACE THEREFOR 2 sna s-sheet 1 Filed July 28, 1938 Ila/ 1, m/0M) ria /1 Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UN I TE D STATE S PATE N T OF FICE, f

CONTAINER AND HINGE BRACE THEREFOR Charles E. Carroll, Newport,-Ark. Application July 28, 19ss,iseria1No.221",-s44

4 Olaims. (c1. 217-47) This invention relates to improvements in containers, especially rigid-sided containers as distinguished from those made of paper, fiber and the like. Any further identification of the particularnature of containers herein contemplated, those that comprise coops of slat construction and those that embody woven wire sides, can and are improved by the embodiment of the principles of the invention. The instant illustration is -.c,onfined to a poultrycoop solely as a matter of convenience.

It is as true of poultry coops as it is .of the wide variety of containers herein contemplated that a demand has to be met for the facilities of lightness in construction, as well as durability, and above all a provision for enabling folding. These requirements have become moreurgent-of recent years, particularly since so many'kinds of farm products are being transported to the market by means of trucks rather than by railway freight cars.

If a truck operator carries the produce in a container such as herein disclosed, he will be able to fold all of the containers and store them in a comparatively small space onthe truck, leaving the rest of the truck free for the hauling of a pay load on the, return trip. This is an advantage which it is impossible to obtain when the containers are of the rigid type. With this preamble in mind the objects of the inventionare as. follows:

First, to provide a container which is so constructed as to enable its being folded fiat for storing and shipping.

Second, to provide a container of the foregoing folding-type, wherein the hinges are so constructas to comprise braces for the top, bottom and side frames when the container is setup.

'Ihird, to provide ends which are permanently but movably connected in the container structure, said ends both locking the container against collapse when set up and bracing the top frame against sagging when a number of containers are stacked upon each other, whether loaded or not.

Fourth, to provide a novel latch arrangement for retaining the container-ends in their erect positions, a particular feature of said arrangement being that all of the latch structure lies within the confines of the respective frame and i act of folding the coop, the bars in the top and side frames-being omitted to better illustrate the foldab-le ends.

'Figure? is a detail perspective view of one end er the'coop, the bars again being omitted, showing how the top and bottom frames are closed locked in position.

Figure '9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. :8 showing how the foregoing end is folded.

Figure 10 is a detail plan viewillustrating the latch arrangement forlocking the respective foldable =end.

Figure '11 isa perspective view of a portion of amodified type of latchlblock.

In carrying out the invention provision is made of a container, generally designated. I, which is herein shown as a poultry coop,although it might comprisea crate, box or some other desired type of container. The coop I consists of top,'bottom andside frames 2,3, land 5. The top frame 2 comprises the longitudinal rails 5, end rails I and center bar 8. Thebottom frame 3 comprises the longitudinal rails 9, end rails II! and-a floor I I. The latter is secured -to the bottom frame by nails 12 (Fig. 8).

Each of the side frames 4, '5 comprises longitudinal rails I3- and end rails "I4. Round bars commonly designated I5 are fitted ineach of the top andside frames (Fig. 1) to form the top and side enclosures. These bars, however, are omitted in each of Figs.'2, 3 and 4 for the sake of clearness in illustrating the other and more important structure. Reverting to Fig. -1, a door I6 of any ordinary kind, is movably .fitted in the top frame 2.

Particular attention is directed to the hinge arrangement which connects the top, bottom and side frames. This arrangement is subject to some variation in itsstructural details, as shown for example in Fig. 4. However, there is an underlying principle in the disposition of the pivot pins of the hinges which is of utmost importance to the proper closing of the coop. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the hinge arrangement comprises a pair of long metal straps II, I8, and a pair. of short metal straps I9, 20. 4 The straps I! are preferably composed of thinner material than the straps I9. For example, thestraps I1 are made of steel, or a suitable equivalent, one-sixte'enth inch thick, while the straps 9 are made one-eighth inch thick. These dimensions are stated merely as a matter of pref erence because in actual practice the thicknesses may all be the same without affecting the working of the hinges.

Each of the straps l1, I8 is alike. As shown in Fig. 6, the strap H has a semi-circular knuckle 2| on one side and a semi-circular recess 22 on the opposite side. The presence of the recess 22 is not essential to the operation of the hinge. It occurs in the strap |1 simply because of the manner in which the latter is-stamped from a sheet of material. The projection of the knuckle 2| naturally leaves a correspondingly shaped recess. It is readily conceivable that a hinge strap equivalent to H can be made, having only the semi-circular knuckle 2| and not the recess 22.

The knuckle 2| is punched with a rivet or pivot pin hole 23 directly in line with the edge 24 of the strap. The other end of the strap has a similar hole 25 punched on the longitudinal center line of the strap and in far enough from the end to be centered upon the longitudinal axis 26 of the adjacent rail 6 of the top frame 2. The strap I1 is also punched with a number of holes 21 for the driving through of nails 28 into the respective end rail 1 (Fig. 1).

The short strap l9 (Fig. 7) is provided with a hinge knuckle 29 which fits upon the knuckle 2|. The knuckle 29 protrudes beyond the edge 36 of the strap 9 in the same manner as does the knuckle 2| in respect to the edge 24 (Fig. 6). The knuckle 29 is punched with a hole 3| for the hinge'pivot and this hole is centered upon the edge 30. The other end of the strap |9 has a hole 32 located on the longitudinal center of the strap and spaced in far enough from the end to be centered uponthe longitudinal axis 33 of the bottom rail l3 of the side 4. The strap l9 has other holes 34 for the driving of nails 35 into the respective end rail M (Fig. l).

A rivet 36, or its equivalent, is headed for insertion in the matching holes 23, 3| (Figs. 6 and 7). This rivet pivotally connects the pair of straps |1, |9. The other pair I8, 20, is similarly pivoted by a connecting rivet 31 and then the two pairs of hinge straps are pivotally connected by rivets 38, 39. Thus the arrangement comprises a rectangular formation which is articulated at each of the four corners and therefore capable of closing and opening.

According to the manner of connecting the straps |1, l9 and I8, 26 the pivots represented by the rivets 36, 31 are centered directly on the intersecting lines of the inside planes 46, 4| (Fig. matching the edges 24, 36 of the long and short strap pairs. Thus disposition of the rivets 36, 31 is necessary to allow the top frame 2 to lie flat upon the side and. bottom frames 4, 3, and also to allow the side frame 5 to lie flat upon the bottom frame 3 when the coop is closed (Fig. 3). It is necessary for the same reason that the pivots represented by the rivets 38, 39 (Fig. 5) shall be centered upon the longitudinal axes of the respective rails 6, 9 of the top and bottom frames.

Reference is now made to the ends 42, 43, which provide the end closures for the coop. Both ends are identical in construction and operation so the description is confined to the end 42. It comprises a pair of cross rails 44, 45, but does not have any upright end rails. These rails are rigidly connected by round bars 46, some of which project at 41 above thetop surface of the rail 44 (Fig. 5). The bottom of the lower rail 45 is rounded at 48 to facilitate turning. A pair of straps 49 (Figs. 1 and 2) hingedly connects the bottom cross rails 45 to the rails 9 of the bottom frame 3, the pivot connections to the latter being designated 56 (Figs. 8 and 9).

Upon desiring to move the end 42 either for cleaning the coop or preparatory to closing the latter, said end is swung in accordance with the arrows a and b (Fig. 9), the operator being directed under the circumstances in the manner andextent of swinging for the accomplishment of the respective purposes.

It is important to note that when the end 42 is collapsed (dotted lines Fig. 9) that all of its structure lies solely within the confines of the bottom frame 3. Therefore there is no protruding part to interfere with the flat super-imposition of the topand side frames 2, 5, upon the bottom frame 3. The identical principle obtains in respect to the latch arrangement generally designated 5| (Figs. 8 and 10). This latch arrangement secures the end 42 in the erect position (Fig. 8). In this connection it is to be noted that when the end 42 is erected its top cross rail 44 takes a position at 52 under the adjacent edge of the end rail 1 of the top frame. Said cross rail 44 fits fairly close in the corners 53, 54 (Fig. 5) of the frame rectangle, thereby locking the hinges from turning and keeping the coop in the erect position.

The foregoing latch arrangement 5| consists of a number of latch blocks 55 (Fig. 10). These are bored with holes so as to fit upon a pair of the top frame rods distinguished for instant purposes by the numerals 56, 51. The blocks are secured by nails 58 to the rod 56 so as to move with it. The other ends of the blocks have a loose fit on the rod 51 and slide thereupon when the rod 56 is moved. One of the blocks 550. (Fig. 10) is spaced at such a distance from the center bar 8 as to cause the latter to act as a stop for the latch arrangement when the latter is shifted in the direction of the arrow 0 to release the end 42.

From this it will be understood that the latch blocks 55, 55a, are adapted to engage the projections 41 of the end 42. The latter lie against the inside of the end, rail 1 when the end is erected (Fig. 8). The adjacent ends of the blocks 55, 55a are beveled at 59, thus to exercise a cam or binding action against the projections 41 which will hold them securely in place. A spring 60 drives the latch arrangement in the direction for locking. The left end of the rod 56 is seated and guided in a socket 6| on the inside of the adjacent rail 6 of-the top frame. Inasmuch as the socket does not go all the way through its bottom forms a limit for the movement of the rod 56 to the left under the tension of the spring 60. The other end of the rod 56 fits and slides in a hole 62 in the other longitudinal rail 6 of the top frame.

The latch arrangement 5| is subject to some variation but in every instance it lies within the confines of the top frame 2 so as not to have any projecting part to interfere with the closing of the coop. One variation comprises making the plural latch blocks (Fig. 10) into a single latch block 63 (Fig. 11). This is attached to the rod 56 as before but instead of having a hole for guidance upon the rod 51 is simply grooved at 64 to ride upon said rod. The front edge 65 of the latch block 63 binds against the projections 41 of the end 42 as before, there being spaces 66 which allow the swinging of the end when the latch block 63 is shifted to the right (arrow d in Fig. 11).

Mention was made of intended variations in the hinge arrangement of the coop frames. The straps i1, I8 are not always necessarily made full length of the end rails I, I0. They may be cut off so as to extend only part of the distance but in all instances the straps extend over considerable portions of the rails I, I and i4, and this being so they constitute braces which add an element of strength to the coop which cannot be had with the ordinary short-leaf hinges customarily used.

A particular modification in the hinge arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 4. Here all parts shown are designated by numerals corresponding to those used in Figs. 1 and 2, only the exponent letter a being added for distinction. The main difference comprises making the hinge knuckles 2 la parts of straps 61 which extend longitudinally of the container la instead of transversely as before. The straps 67 are nailed to the top and bottom frames and terminate in identical hinge arrangements at the far ends.

On the same principle the rivets 38a, 39a connect the butt ends of the straps l9a, 20a, to bent ends 68 of straps 69 which are nailed longitudinally of the top and bottom frames and also terminate at identical arrangements at the unseen end. The pivots of the hinge arrangement in Fig. 4 are arranged identically as disclosed in Fig. 5 so that the principle of swinging will be the same.

The operation of the coop is readily understood. It is important to note that when the end 42 is erected (Figs. 1 and 8) its top cross rail 44 serves as a lock against the collapse of the coop on its hinges. This is due to the face that said cross rail fits in the corners 53, 54 of the frame rectangle (Fig. 5). This fitting in of the top cross rail also has another important purpose. Said cross rail contacts the end rail 1 of the top frame fairly tightly. Thus the end 42 is made to act as a brace for the top frame, preventing the rails 1 from sagging when a number of loaded coops are stacked upon each other.

Upon desiring to close the coop the latch arrangement 5| is shifted in the proper direction (arrow 0, Fig. thus displacing the latch blocks from behind the projections 41. The end 42 is then swung (Fig. 9) until it lie upon the floor I I. The top and side frames are then swung (arrows c, Fig. 2) until the various frames lie together (Fig. 3). Certain corners of the rails 6 and 9 are beveled at 6a, 9a (Fig. 5) so that turning can be accomplished without conflicting with the adjacent rails of the side frame. The top frame 2 and side frame 5 will lie parallel to each other in a common plane as will also the bottom frame 3 and the side frame 4. The total thickness of the collapsed coop is then equal to the double thickness of the frame rails plus the bottom.

It will be understood from the foregoing description, especially from the introductory statements thereto, that the invention relates particularly to rigid-sided containers of a wide variety of types, as distinguished from containers of a more flexible nature, such as those made of paper and the like. It is of foremost importance to embody the specific hinge construction and it is equally important to attach this construction externally of the container so that its bracing and reinforcing functions will be had to the fullest extent. This hinge construction also enables the use of smaller timbers in the framework than is customarily possible. It is not intended that the hinge construction shall be counter-sunk in the wood at any place; in virtually all instances the hinge construction is attached somewhere to the outside of the container.

' It is of further importance to note that the hinge construction is such as to virtually prevent an accumulation of waste at the'hinge joints. These joints may aptly be described as being fiat. There are no projections whatsoever from them to catch dirt and the absence of projections is particularly noticeable when collapsing the coop because then it is of foremost importance to be able to close the coop flat so that a large number can be stacked for storing.

I claim:

1. A coop comprising a top and a pair of side frames, each with filler rods, and a bottom frame, hinges connecting the frames in assemblage, ends hinged to the bottom frame, including pairs of cross-rails and filler rodstherebetween, at least one of which projects above the top cross rail, and a latch arrangement mounted on selected rods of the top frame, including a movable latch block with a beveled end to engage said projection and bind it against an adjacent rail of the top frame.

2. A coop comprising a top and a pair of side frames, each with filler rods, and a bottom frame, a center bar in said top frame, a socket in one of the longitudinal rails of the top frame,

hinges connecting the frames in assemblage, ends hinged to the bottom frame, including pairs of cross rails and filler rods therebetween, at least one of the filler rods projecting above the top cross rail to lie against the end rail of the top frame, said top cross rail being adapted to contact the nether side of said end rail, one of the filler rods of the top frame'being slidable on the center bar and the other longitudinal rail and having one of its ends in the socket, a spring on the other end of the slidable rod, abutting the adjacent longitudinal rail to urge said rod into the socket, and a latch block on said rod adapted to engage the projecting filler rod and being so spaced from the center bar as to use said bar as a stop.

3. In a coop, a top frame including a fixed and a slidable filler rod, a hingedly mounted end which is swingable into an erect position in reference to an end rail of said top frame, and a latch block secured to said slidable rod, having one of its ends guided by the fixed rod and its other end beveled to engage a portion of the erected end.

4. In a coop, a bottom frame having a floor, an end adapted to be erected in respect to said frame, said end including a cross rail, and a pair of hinge straps movably connecting said cross rail to the longitudinal rails of the bottom frame, enabling lifting said end and then laying it down upon said floor. v

CHARLES E. CARROLL. 

